Ditching-machine.



0. WEST.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0. WEST.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909 949,841. Patented Feb. 15,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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0. WEST.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILBI) MAY 3, 1909. 949,341. v Patented Feb. 15,1910. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Wifne$sew OWEN WEST, OF CLARK TOWNSHIP, CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

DITCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed May 3, 1909. Serial No. 493,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN TEST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Clark township, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to plows and similar machines for ditching, and the especial obj ect of the invention is to provide a machine to dig the ditches in which tiles are to be laid for the drainage of land.

My invention consists in providing a wheel having cutters arranged in apposition on its periphery to cut the ditch as the wheel rolls along, and to remove the material from the ditch by jamming the material between the cutters, carrying it up around the wheel, together with means for removing the material from between the cutters and diverting it to the side of the ditch.

My invention also consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, parts being broken away for lack of space, and other parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line mw of Fig. 1, looking to the rear, illustrating the shovels in position on the main frame, parts of the main frame being broken away for lack of space. Fig. 4t is a cross section on the line y y of Fig. 1, looking forward. Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of the machine provided with shovels for returning the material to the ditch.

As illustrated, the wheel 1 for cutting the ditch comprises cutters 1 at the sides and a cutter 1 in the middle, each of these cutters consisting in a disk and all being of the same diameter. They are held in spaced apart positions by means of rings 2, of less diameter than the cutters, placed between the cutters. These rings 2 and the cutters are held together by means of bolts 2 passing through the cutters inside the rings, and these bolts are also adapted to hold the rings concentric with the cutters. Thus held in apposition, these cutters or disks are adapted to cut the ditch when the wheel rolls along, and being sufliciently close together, the soil or material to be removed from the ditch will be jammed between them and carried up around the wheel, as it rotates in a vertical plane while rolling along the ditch. To carry the wheel to thus rotate in a vertical plane, it is rigidly mounted on a shaft 3 by means of nuts 3 screwed up against the outer sides of the disks 1 at the sides, collars 3 being provided around the shaft 3 between the disks. The nut 3 at the left side is provided with a left hand thread, and the nut 23 at the right side is provided with a right hand thread, while the shaft 3 is threaded accordingly, so that the turning of the wheel only tends to tighten the nuts against it. This shaft 3 extends laterally on each side, and is journaled in bearings 1 which are mounted on the lower edges of the sides 5 of the frame 5, about mid way of their length, these sides 5 flanking the wheel 1 and being jointed to ends 5 forwardly and rearwardly of the wheel.

A main frame 0 is provided for carrying the machine, and consists in sides 6 joined to ends 6 at the front and at the rear, the sides 6 flanking the frame This main frame (3 has front axles 7 and rear axles 8 extending transversely of the machine, and on these axles front wheels 7 and rear wheels 8, respectively, are mounted to roll on the surface of the ground. The front axle 7 swivels on a pin 7 and a pole S) is attached to it so that the machine may thus be guided. As here shown, a fork 10 also swivels on the pin in the front axle 7 so that the axle 7 may turn without moving the fork. In addition to this relative movement between the fork 10 and the axle 7, the fork 10 is artieulately connected to the axle so that it may move up and down, with its connection with the axle as a fulcrum. The members 10 of the fork flank the sides of the frame 5 inside the main frame, and pins 10 secured to the sides of the frame 5 near its middle over the shaft 3 of the wheel I extend through the members 10 of the fork and form a pivotal connection between the fork and the frame. Thus, the frame may move up and down in the main frame while supported by the fork 10.

To oppose the pivotal movement of the fork 10 with respect to the frame 5 and enable the fork to support the frame at various heights, pins 11 are provided, to be inserted in any one of the openings 11, in each side 5 of the frame 5, these openings being arranged in series extending longitudinally of the frame forwardly of the pivotal con Y in alinement with the middle cutter 1 of nection of the fork with the frame. The pins 11 engaging with the upper sides of the members 10 of the fork support the frame forwardly on the fork and the farther forward the pins 11 are positioned, the lower will be the position in which the frame is supported.

For supporting the rear end of the frame, and for moving the frame up and down, a vertical screw 12 is provided, j ournaled in a bracket 12 above, and threaded into a nut 12 below. This nut 12 is pivotally attached to a bracket12 by means of a fork 12 to form a universal joint therewith, the bracket 12 being rigidly mounted on the end 6" of the main frame at the rear, and the bracket 12 being mounted on the end 5 of the frame at the rear. The screw 12 is provided with a suitable hand wheel 13 for turning it to adjust the frame 5 up or down, and it is also provided with collars 13 and 13 above and below the bracket 12, respectively, to resist endwise movement of the screw in the bracket, so that all movement imparted to the screw will be transmitted to the bracket 12 and to the frame 5, on which the bracket 12" is mounted.

For removing the material from between the disks or cutters of the wheel 1, a scraper 14 is mounted on a transverse support 14 on the upper side of the frame 5, forwardly of the wheel. This scraper 14 has parts 14 extending between the middle disk 1 and the outside disk 1, these parts extending close to the rings 2 between the cutters. Thus, all material jammed between the cutters around the rings 2 will engage with the parts 14" of the scraper 14 and will pass forwardly of the machine along the scraper 14 as the wheel rotates while the machine is being drawn forward. Obviously, the ditch cut will be of a width equal to the distance between the outsides of the outside cutters 1 of the wheel 1. To divert the material removed from the ditch to the sides of the ditch, a mold board 15 is mounted forwardly of the scraper 14 along with it on the transverse support 14, this mold board comprising two wings 15 diverging forwardly toward the sides of the machine. Preferably, these wings 15 of the mold board 15 are concave on their outer sides to confine the material within the limits of the mold board and insure its being diverted over the sides of the frame 5 to fall on the surface of the ground atthe sides of the ditch. To efliciently divide the mass of material removed from between the cutters of the wheel, the mold board 15 preferably is provided with a small share 15" which extends upwardly and forwardly from the surface of the scraper 14, the wings 15' of the mold board separating at the termination of this share 15. The share is the wheel. Also .in alinement with the middle cutter 1 of the wheel forwardly thereof and extending downwardly from the lower side of the frame 5, a colter 16 is provided, presenting a sharp edge 16 forwardly, running vertically. This colter 16 terminates in horizontal alinement with the lowermost edges of the cutters of the wheel 1 and is provided at its termination with a horizontally extending part 16 which presents its edge forwardly. Thus positioned, this colter 16 is adapted to cut in advance of the middle cutter of the wheel with its vertical part 16, and also to cut the bottom of the ditch in advance of the wheel with its horizontal part 16, the horizontal part being of about the length transversely that the width of the ditch is to be. This cutting of the bottom of the ditch in advance of the cutting of the wheel relieves the wheel of the duty of separating the material from the bottom of the ditch and the vertical cut provided by the vertical edge 16 of the colter relieves the middle disk or cutter 1 0f some of its duty, so that most of the force is directed. to the outside cutters 1 for cutting the sides of the ditch and for jamming the material between them and the middle cutter 1 to be removed from the ditch.

The ditching is done by taking successive cuts with the wheel and with the colter in advance thereof, these successive cuts being taken by lowering the wheel before each cut is started, by means of the screw 12 while the pins 1.1 are removed from over the members 10 of the fork. This lowering of the frame with the wheel and the colter thereon is in effect a raising of the main frame 6 by means of the screw 12, the pins 11 being placed in the openings 11" forwardly of those which they occupied at the last cut. By this means, with the entire weight of the main frame thrown upon the wheel and the colter, they will sink into the ground to the new level, after which the wheels of the main frame will follow the surface of the ground. hen thus taking a new cut, it is desirable to have the preceding cut widened to relieve the sides of the wheel of unnecessary friction, and, for this purpose, blades 17 are mounted to the rear of the wheel, one blade being on each side and slightly outside of the plane of the outside disk or cutter 1 of the wheel. on each side. These blades 17 preferably do not eX- tend quite to the depth being out by the wheel, but, being thus outside, they will cut the upper parts of the sides of the ditch and widen the upper part of the ditch as the machine passes along. Preferably, these blades 17 are slightly flexible so that they converge downwardly when thus cutting the sides of the ditch, giving the ditch the cross section as illust 'ated at A in Fig. 41 of the drawings. To vary the Widening of the ditch thus accomplished by the blades 17, it is desirable to so mount these blades on the frame 5 that they may be adjusted laterally inwardly or outwardly. Such adjustment is afforded by attaching the blade 17 to the frame by means of brackets 17 bolted to the lower edges of the sides of the frame and to the transverse bars 17" on the upper edges of the sides of the frame through slots in said bracket 17. By adjusting these blades 17 outwardly far enough they may be made to widen the ditch sufficiently to admit the bearings 4: of the wheel on its upper part, and the ditch may thus be cut to a depth exceeding one-half the diameter of the wheel 1. The cutting is most efficiently done when moderate cuts are taken in proportion to the diameter of the wheel, about equal to that illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, where the dotted line B represents the bottom of the ditch at the first cut, and the dotted line C represents the bottom at the second cut, which the machine is represented as performing.

To insure the material remaining in the spaces between the cutters while .it is being carried up around the wheel, a guide 18 may be provided at the rear of the wheel, spaced slightly away from the edges of the cutters and parallel to their edges, this guide extending across the width of the wheel and being supported by means of braces 18 and 18", attached to the bar 17 and to the lower side of the frame, respectively. The lower end of this guide 18 extends close to the bottom of the cutter of the wheel, and, preferably, slightly diverges therefrom near this end so that a slight jamming effect will also be produced radially of the wheel as the material enters over this guide 18. Thus constructed, the wheel 1, together with the means for removing the material therefrom comprised by the scraper 14;, and the mold board 15, as well as the colter 1G forwardly and the blades 17 rearwardly, are all mounted on the frame 5 and adapted to be adjusted up or down with the wheel to co-act therewith during each successive cut.

In addition to the vertical adjustment of these parts with respect to the main frame, it is necessary to cause the wheel 1 to maintain its position to rotate in a vertical plane so that the sides of the ditch may be uniformly vertical and the cutting may be performed in the most efficient manner by pre senting the cutting edges in the direction of gravitation, which is the actuating force that cooperates with the traction of the machine to perform the cutting. In order to insure this uniform position of the wheel 1 and the parts which co-act with it, levers 19 are fulcrmned in brackets 19 on a frame 19 extending transversely of the machine over the wheel 1, these levers 19 extending forwardly of the brackets 19 and having rods 20 pivoted to them near their forward ends which rods extend down and are pivoted to the frame 5 forward of the pivotal connection of the fran'ie with the fork 10, one of these lovers 1%) with its fulcrum 19 and a rod 20 being provided at each side of the machine, and the rods 20 being thus pivotally connected to the frame on opposite sides. The levers 19 extend rearwardly of the machine to project over the rear end of the main frame, and a foot board 21 is provided on the rear end of the main frame on which the operator may stand to grasp the levers 19. The frame 5 is allowed to swivel slightly by means of the articulate connection of the fork 10 to the main frame in front and by means of the nut 12 in the bracket 12 at the rear, so that the lateral inclination of the main frame with respect to that of the wheel may be varied by the pulling down on either of the levers 19, the pulling down on thelevers 1!) at the left resulting in inclination of the main frame to the right, and a similar operation of the lever at the right resulting in inclinatioi'i of the main frame to the left.

The axles 7 and S of the main frame are of such length that considerable vertical displacement of the wheels 7' and 8 may take place with a small corresponding swiveling movement between the main frame and the frame. Thus, marked variations in the surface of the ground within the paths of the wheels of the main frame may be compensated for and their effect on the wheel 1 and the co-acting parts pratically eliminated by the manipulation of the levers 19 by the operator on the foot board, the powerful leverage afforded by these levers enabling him to control the frame and main frame as the machine passes along. \Vith this arrangement, when the machine is cutting the ditch, the function of the main frame is only to afford this means for maintaining the wheel in its proper position for cutting the ditch with vertical sides and to afford the means for exerting traction on the cutting parts, the wheel 1 carrying its own weight, and also the greater part of the wei ht of the machine. The traction is afforded by horses, or any other suitable tractor, hitched to the front end of the main frame, and hitched to the pole 9 thereof to guide the machine. Preferably, the tractor for the machine is provided in two divisions. one of which is at one side of the ditch and some distance therefrom, such, for inst ancc, as three horses at each side. F or this purpose, the main frame is provided with a double-tree 22, long enough to afford the means for attaching the divisions of the tractor thus positioned. This avoids undue pressure on the sides of the ditch, during the successive cuts, and in a case of the use of horses, all may be driven by a driver positioned on a seat 23 at the front end of the main frame. Thus, two operators are sufficient for performing the work with the machine, and the machine may be drawn forward at. any speed within the limits of the tractive power, removing the full amount .of material from the ditch that is displaced at each cut and depositing it at the sides of the ditch. The material removed by the blades 17 at the sides is removed by the wheel 1 during the following cut. these blades may be moved inward and rendered inoperative during the last cut, so that the bottom of the ditch will be left clean when completed.

The laying of the tile in the bottom of the ditch may follow the last out taken by the machine, and this laying may be accomplished wit-h a speed equal to that of the machine in taking the last cut, so that upon the returnof the machine to the starting point of the ditch shovels 24 may be attached to the rear of the main frame by means of upwardly extending arms 24, one of these shovels being at each side of the ditch, converging inwardly with their inner ends extending over the sides of the ditch and each being of length sufficient to encounter all the material deposited along the side of the ditch. Then, when the machine passes along the ditch, the material will be thrown back into the ditch by these shovels 24-, covering the tile and completing the work. Before starting the machine along the ditch to perform this covering operation, the frame 5 with the operating parts mounted thereon may be adjusted to its uppermost position, bringing the operating parts above the surface of the ground. \Vith these parts in this position, the machine is also ready for transportation, the main frame then acting as the carriage for transporting the machine, and the tractive force being reduced to that necessary for merely hauling the machine.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ditching machine, a wheel comprising a series of disks, a shaft on which the disks are mounted, collars between the disks on the shafts and rings between the disks, of less diameter than the disks, nuts screwed onto the shaft toward each other, clamping the disks and the collars on the shaft, and means for holding the disks and rings together, whereby said disks are held in apposition to remove the material from the ditch by amming it between the disks.

2. In a ditching machine, the combination with a wheel having cutters in apposition on its periphery to cut the ditch and to remove the material from the ditch by jamming it between the cutters, a frame having If so desired,

sides flanking the wheel, a shaft journaled transversely on the frame on which said wheel is mounted to rotate in a vertical plane, means for removing the material from between the cutters and diverting it to the side of the ditch, said means being mounted on the frame, a fork having members embracing the frame and pivotally attached to its sides, a main frame Within which said frame is contained, the fork being articulately connected to one end of the main frame to swing in a vertical plane and carry said frame up or down, adjustable connecting means between said frame and the other end of said main frame to vary the position of said frame vertically, and adjustable engaging means between the fork and the frame, whereby when the position of the frame is varied vertically said fork may support said frame in such position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a ditching machine, the combination with a wheel having cutters in apposition on its periphery to out the ditch and to re.- move the material from the ditch by jamming it between the cutters, of a frame having sides flanking the wheel, a shaft jour naled transversely in the frame on which said wheel is mounted to rotate in a vertical plane, a main frame having sides flanking the sides of the frame and ends extending past the ends of the frame, adjustable connections between the frame and the ends of the main frame, whereby the position of the frame may be varied vertically and held in such varied positions, said main frame being adapted to travel along the surface of the ground, and the wheel to extend into the ground to cut the ditch, a foot board at the rear of the main frame, a lever connected to one side of the frame and fulcrumed on the main frame, and a lever connected to the other side of the frame and fulcrumed on the main frame, said levers extending rearwardly of the machine and being adapted to be grasped by an operator standing on the foot board to maintain the wheel in position for rotating in the vertical plane when the position of the main frame varies in passing over uneven ground, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a ditching machine, the combination with a wheel having cutters in apposition on its periphery to cut the ditch and to remove the material from the ditch by amming it between the cutters, of a frame having sides flanking the wheel, a shaft journaled transversely on the frame upon which said wheel is mounted to rotate in a vertical plane, means for removing the material from between the cutters and diverting it to the side of the ditch, said means being mounted on the frame, a main frame having sides flanking the frame and ends extending past the ends of the frame, connections between the ends of the frame and the ends of the main frame, whereby the frame may be adjusted vertically in the main frame and held in adj usted position to vary the depth of cutting of the wheel, means for laterally inclining the main frame with respect to the frame, the main frame being adapted to travel along the ground while the wheel having cutters extends into the ground to cut the ditch, and means for exerting traction on said main frame.

5. In a ditching machine, the combination with a wheel having cutters in apposition on its periphery to cut the ditch and remove the material therefrom by jamming it between the cutters, and means for removing the material from between the cutters and diverting it to the side of the ditch, of a frame on which said wheel and said means for removing the material from between its cutters is mounted, a main frame having sides flanking the frame and ends extending past the frame at the front and the rear, articulate connection between the frame and the end of the main frame at the front, whereby the frame may be moved vertically in the main frame, a bracket on the end of the main frame at the rear, a bracket on the frame at the rear, and a screw passing through said brackets to move the frame vertically in the main frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a ditching machine, the combination with a wheel having cutters in apposition on its periphery to cut the ditch and to remove the material therefrom by jamming it between the cutters and diverting it to the side of the ditch, of a rectangular frame having sides flanking the wheel, said wheel and the means for removing the material from its cutters being mounted on said frame, a main frame having sides flanking the frame and ends extending past the frame at the front and the rear, a screw connecting the f 'ame to the end of the main frame at the rear, whereby the frame may be moved vertically in the main frame, a fork articulately c011- nected to the end of the main frame at the front and having members extending back ward and embracing the sides of the frame, pivotal connections between the members of the fork and the sides of the frame, and pins at the sides of the frame to engage with the members of the fork adjacent to said sides, the frame being provided with openings in its sides in a series extending longitmlinally thereof, each of which is adapted to receive the pin to engage with the member of the fork whereby when the frame is moved vertically in the main frame it may be maintained in positions at various heights, sub- ;tantially as and for the purposes herein set orth.

OWVEN WVEST.

WVitnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, FLORENCE HAMMEL. 

